Dongits Model Railway

Some of the layouts I found inspirational (And was able to get near with a camera!) at the Great Electric Train Show (Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes, October 2023). 00:00 -- Making Tracks (OO) 06:45 -- James Street (N) 10:26 -- Burntisland 1883 (P4) 11:39 -- Hills of the North (OO)

Order your own PCBs with PCBWay: https://pcbway.com/g/4z4dro A while ago I picked up some second-hand hand-made points. I want to use them in the next phase of layout construction, so time to get them out, and see what I can do with them. 00:00 -- Current state and options 03:37 -- Timber replacement with PCB strip 07:53 -- Wiring Droppers 11:00 -- Two different designs - PCB and Riveted 12:56 -- Fixing Tie-Bars 14:19 -- The most difficult point 19:08 -- Separating the blades and the frog 19:49 -- Testing 22:19 -- Problem diagnosis 23:16 -- Replacing the Tie-Bar 27:46 -- Testing 29:16 -- Conclusion

My 2021 release Hornby APT will not climb out of my storage yard. It seems like the obvious solution to buy some spare parts, and add a motor to the other NDM. However, it's not possible to order all the parts required, and installation isn't easy. 00:00 -- The problem 01:15 -- Dismantling an NDM 04:46 -- The missing piece you can't order 06:32 -- Making the missing piece 08:12 -- Assembling the newly powered NDM 11:22 -- Testing 15:47 -- Fixing problems 18:33 -- Reassembly fail: body orientation issues 19:43 -- Second test

ABC PCBs are now available here: https://www.pcbway.com/project/shareproject/DMR_ABC_4_DCC_Asymmetric_Braking_controller_4_channel_9d298a48.html PCBWay referral code ($5 free credit): https://pcbway.com/g/4z4dro 0:00 - Thanks! 0:23 - Getting your own ABC PCBs 1:48 - Assembling it 3:31 - Using it 4:16 - Feedback

Understanding what coaches do, and how to make trains with them. Brake coaches: What do they do, and why do you need one? Or ... is it two? Passenger classes -- Understanding First, Standard, Second and Third. And just what is a "Composite" anyway? When do you want a restaurant coach, and when do you not, can you use more, and where do they go? And how do you put all these together to make a believable train? 00:00 - Who is this for? 01:33 - Train Length 02:44 - Rules, and "Rules" 03:47 - Descriptive Words and Coach codes 04:30 - Brake coaches 08:05 - Passenger Classes, and "Composite" 10:00 - Compartment, Corridor and Open coaches 12:13 - Restaurant Coaches 15:49 - Summary

Running my Northampton Cobbler set at the local model railway club

A more detailed look at the Auscision NR class locomotive I picked up in Australia recently. It's quite different how it is wired up internally compared to typical UK locomotives, and how the lighting uses functions on a DCC decoder. 00:00 - Unboxing 00:57 - Removing the Couplers 02:29 - Removing the Body 03:28 - Reconfiguring lights, DCC fitting 04:55 - Reassembly 06:55 - Resolving coupler problems 07:30 - Test Run, History, Wagons 09:22 - Light Configuration 11:05 - Lighting Demonstration

Here are some of the layouts I found inspirational at Expo EM Spring 2023. 00:00 -- Oldshaw (EM) 03:53 -- Leysdown (P4) 09:31 -- Canada Street (EM) 16:43 -- Harkness (EM) 22:01 -- Eastwood (P4) 24:52 -- Angel Bank (EM) 30:36 -- The Depôts - Rosedale East (EM) 35:00 -- Kerrinhead (P4) 40:48 -- Pulborough (P4)

A quick look at some Australian model trains from Auscision and SDS. 0:00 -- What's in the box? 0:25 -- Auscision NR11 Pacific National (5 Stars) 1:44 -- SDS RTQY 63' Container Wagon 3 Pack 3:54 -- Auscision NKQY Container Wagon 4 Pack 6:14 -- Containers 7:02 -- Surprise merch! 7:25 -- Pre-order advertising leaflets

Here are some of the layouts I found inspirational at the London Festival of Railway Modelling, Alexandra Palace, March 2023. 00:00 -- Reevy Road West (OO) 02:21 -- Ingatestone (OO) 04:00 -- Westwick (N) 05:11 -- New Sodbury (OO) 08:19 -- Alderford (OO) 15:50 -- North Ballachulish (EM) 17:29 -- Blowers Green (O) 24:08 -- Wolfstatt (HO) 29:05 -- Falcon Road (OO-SF)

In this video I wire the four blocks across the lift-out bridge, using ABC and DTC boards produced by my channel sponsor, PCBWay. [https://www.pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=571307] Afterwards, I test all four tracks with the first powered train. 00:00 -- Current State 00:15 -- Wiring the Southern approach tracks 02:34 -- DTC board revision 03:36 -- Wiring the Northern approach tracks 08:01 -- Wiring the bridge itself 10:18 -- Plugs and sockets 14:12 -- Review 14:53 -- Testing

In this video I fix some things I dislike about the train detector board, and order a new set using surface mount component assembly from my channel sponsor, PCBWay. [https://www.pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=571307] 00:00 -- Layout Current State 01:11 -- Why update the DTC8? 03:20 -- Surface Mount Components & Assembly 07:02 -- Unboxing 08:37 -- Current Transformers 14:08 -- Testing 15:18 -- Economics

In this video I diagnose and repair a Bachmann Class 44 Peak which had wheels turning in opposite directions when it arrived. 00:00 - Initial Look at the loco and test on DC 00:28 - Disassembly & Diagnosis 02:33 - Replacing the bogie gear tower 08:09 - Testing the new bogie 08:53 - DCC Fitting & Testing 10:10 - Fitting missing Cab Interiors 11:57 - Test Running

To have custom PCBs made to your own design, check out my channel sponsor, PCBWay: [https://www.pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=571307] In this video I diagnose a Hornby Class 50 which is causing a dead short across the rails once DCC fitted. I work out what the factory PCB is doing, simplify and modify it to work properly in DCC, followed by a thorough test run. 00:00 - Initial Look at the loco and test on DC 01:18 - DCC fitting 02:43 - Fault diagnosis 04:14 - Understanding the stock PCB 06:40 - Planning modifications 08:21 - Testing the modified PCB 10:40 - Bug fixing and Final Design 12:19 - Test Running

A New Year update from Dongits Model Railway, showing the progress of construction over the Christmas period. The four track mainline is laid from the south side of the room across to the north side via the lift out bridge. Table of Contents: 00:00 - Intro and Review of current situation 00:27 - Detail design, marking out 03:29 - Laying the rest of the hidden track 05:39 - Laying track on both sides of the bridge 07:30 - Soldering rail to PCB sleepers 10:16 - "Gluing" plastic chairs to wooden baulks with MEK 13:50 - Cutting the lift-out bridge back out 15:56 - Completed bridge

Testing the ABC braking features of a Hornby Sapphire DCC decoder I received with a second hand locomotive purchase to see if it's ABC implementation will allow it to be used on my layout. Table of Contents: 00:00 - Introduction 00:38 - Hornby Sapphire R8245 DCC Decoder 01:28 - ABC Settings 01:46 - Testing 02:27 - Conclusion

To have custom PCBs made to your own design like the ones I use to control Asymmetric Braking under DCC, see my channel sponsor, PCBWay: [https://www.pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=571307] In this video I wire an Electrofrog diamond as part of a Double Junction for DCC with support for block detection and asymmetric braking. This junction is at the back of the layout hidden in a tunnel, and forms one of the two ways that trains can get between the storage yard and the scenic part of the layout. Table of Contents: 00:00 -- The Junction and Motors 01:01 -- Preparing the Points 02:55 -- Requirements 07:50 -- Diagram & Bench Wiring 09:56 -- Point Motor Installation 12:09 -- Wiring the Electrofrog Diamond 14:01 -- Block wire back to Electronics 14:57 -- Testing the points 15:50 -- Testing the block detection

Testing the ABC braking features of an ESU LokPilot 5 DCC decoder to see if their ABC implementation is up to required standard. Can I use this decoder on my fully-wired-for-ABC layout? Let's find out! Table of Contents: 00:00 - Introduction 01:11 - ESU LokPilot 5 Basic 59029 02:00 - Motor settings 02:35 - Constant Distance by braking later 03:30 - Constant Distance by braking slower 04:20 - (Not) Handling overrun due to Mechanical Momentum 07:10 - Comparison to a Zimo decoder 08:06 - Conclusion

Improving the Electronics Mounting clusters at Dongits Model Railway. To have custom PCBs made to your own design, see my channel sponsor, PCBWay: [https://www.pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=571307] I have built myself into a corner with how some of the Electronics are mounted. It's time to sort that out before making more progress building the rest of the layout. Table of Contents: 00:00 - Current state 00:40 - Creating an Electronics Cluster 03:16 - Custom PCBs from PCBWay 04:05 - A bad location 04:41 - A good location 05:17 - Looks bad, actually fine 05:51 - Looks fine, actually not 06:51 - How to fix the one I built earlier 08:19 - Making new supports 11:14 - Fixing the new Cluster 13:01 - Fixing the re-used Cluster 13:16 - First attempt at fixing the bad Cluster 14:23 - Second attempt at fixing the bad Cluster 16:08 - Reinstalling the upper running surface

Diagnosing a problem with Lit Pullman Coaches causing a train to fail to stop in an ABC braking section. Do you want to make your own PCBs? Design a PCB yourself, and have it produced for you by PCBWay: [https://www.pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=571307] Also check out the PCBWay Community site at [https://www.pcbway.com/project/] Two of these lit pullman coaches in the same train was interfering with the ability of a locomotive to stop in the ABC sections at the club layout. In this video I check out the DCC waveform with an oscilloscope as I see if I can reproduce the issue at home. Do let me know in the comments what you think I should do with these coaches. Table of Contents: 00:00 - The Problem 00:28 - DCC Waveform -- Data and ABC 00:47 - PCBWay 01:32 - DCC Waveform -- Noise 02:20 - Testing the coaches 04:33 - Disassembly to review lighting circuit 05:46 - Options for how to proceed

DCC Concepts Zen Black decoders are being recommended by other Model Railway YouTubers for their comprehensive ABC implementation. Does it live up to the hype? Can I use this decoder on my fully-wired-for-ABC layout? Let's find out! Table of Contents: 00:00 - Zen Black ZN218.6 00:57 - Decoder not recognised by JMRI 02:02 - The Manual (What's there, and what's conspicuously not) 02:40 - Sanity Checking on the DCC Concepts Forum 03:05 - Different Constant Distance ABC Braking implementations 04:48 - Testing the decoder's braking distance 07:11 - Understanding what has been implemented 08:20 - Testing the decoder's response with no.2 end leading 10:13 - Conclusions about the decoder 10:43 - Conclusions about the company

Did you buy non-lit Bachmann Mk2Fs, and now find you'd have rather bought the lit versions? Never fear, you can upgrade them to full DCC lit specification today, with all OEM parts direct from Bachmann spares so they look and work identically to factory lit examples! Mk2F coach electronics are available here: https://bachmann-spares.co.uk/category/4-other-vehicles/mk2f-coaches/electronics Table of Contents: 00:00 - Bachmann Mk2F TSO 00:53 - Lighting parts from Bachmann Spares 01:27 - Body removal 02:40 - Fitting the Pickup PCB 04:47 - Fitting the Lighting PCB 05:10 - Hiding the wiring and reassembling the coach 05:50 - Testing the installation 06:34 - One last thing to fix

De-soldering, removing and replacing components on a PCB to repair an early-batch MERG DTC8a DCC train detector with the low sensitivity fault. Do you want to make your own PCBs? Design a PCB yourself, and have it produced for you by PCBWay: [https://www.pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=571307] The first run of the MERG DTC8a kit had a fault in the board markings resulted in low sensitivity when built as described. The fix is to turn the transistors around, but doing so if you've already built the kit is quite a challenge. Table of Contents: 00:00 - The Problem 00:29 - Desoldering using a Solder Sucker 01:18 - Removing Components for Re-use 02:09 - Problems with Component Removal 02:36 - Sacrificing the old components to preserve the board 03:17 - Installing new components 03:56 - DTC8 History Lesson 05:57 - PCBWay Rapid Prototyping 06:57 - Possible Explanation? 07:29 - Fixing another mistake 08:07 - Testing sensitivity

Building baseboard frames to close the gap in the upper levels at Dongits Model Railway. I'm making some complex shapes to support the upper levels, using a technique christened by the internet as "Cardboard Aided Design". Using cardboard templates allows both a rapid iteration on the design and a level of testing before cutting into potentially expensive materials. Table of Contents: 00:00 - The Gap 00:31 - Outer Framing 01:30 - Cardboard Template 02:56 - Cardboard to Ply 05:11 - Installing the first ply side 09:39 - Installing the second ply side 10:18 - More templates 11:28 - Testing clearance 11:55 - Cutting out the remaining supports 13:57 - Installing the remaining supports

Building my way out of 'dependency hell' at Dongits Model Railway. Sometimes the obvious sequence to build things doesn't work, and I end up working in a completely unrelated part of the room, trying to unblock something apparently unrelated. Table of Contents: 0:00 - Dependency Hell 0:40 - Terminus board frame 1:19 - Terminus board top 2:05 - The Filing Cabinet problem 2:53 - Moving inconvenient wiring 3:32 - Measuring the height difference and correcting the plan 4:14 - Building the first incline supports 4:34 - 1:1 Plan and foam roadbed 5:20 - Next steps